Meetings in Ankara between high-level Turkish officials and a US delegation have continued, primarily focusing on military strategies and hardware procurement, with no attention to incorporating peace efforts, as per the reports.
These talks, featuring members of the US House Armed Services Committee, are part of mutual US-Turkish efforts to mend the long-strained relations between the two countries, due to Turkey’s procurement of Russian S-400 missile systems and the US’ subsequent decision to remove Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet program. Recently, Turkey successfully negotiated deals for the procurement and upgrade of F-16 jets, leveraging its position during the NATO accession talks of Sweden and Finland.
Currently, Turkey is seeking assurances to utilise F-16 jets according to its strategic needs, which observers consider to be on the agenda. This goal is viewed alongside Turkey’s efforts to receive the US green light for a planned summer offensive against Kurdish guerrilla positions in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, presenting a critical and contentious point of discussion.
